anyone at all. You go to one side. Get out of my way!"

Snake replied, "I am here. I have never thought for a moment of giving
place to anyone!"

"Even if you think so," said Coyote, "I will run over you."

"If you do so, you shall die," said Snake.

"Why should I die? There is nothing that can kill me," said Coyote.

"Come! Step over me. Do it in spite of me," said Snake. Then Coyote
stepped over him. And Snake bit him. But Coyote did not feel it.

"Where is it? You said that if I stepped over you, I should die.
Where have I received my death blow?" said Coyote.

Snake made no reply and Coyote walked on. After some time he came to a
creek. As he was about to drink, he saw himself in the water. He
seemed very fat.

"Whew!" he said. "I was never so before. I am very fat." Saying this,
he felt himself all over; but that was all he did. Then he walked on
until he felt sleepy. He said, "I am very sleepy." So he pushed his
way into the thick grass and fell asleep. Coyote did not wake up.
Snake had told the truth.

WHY THE WOLVES HELP IN WAR

_Dakota_

Once upon a time an Indian found a wolf den, and began digging into it
to get the cubs.

Wolf Mother appeared, barking. She said, "Pity my children," but he
paid no attention to her. So she ran for her husband.

Wolf Father soon appeared. He barked. Still the man dug into the den.
Then Wolf Father sang a beautiful song. He sang, "O man, pity my
children, and I will teach you one of my arts." He ended with a howl
which caused a fog. When the Wolf Father howled again, the fog
disappeared.

The man thought, "These animals have mysterious gifts." So he tore up
his red blanket into small pieces. He tied a piece around the neck of
each of the wolf cubs, as a necklace. Then he painted them with red
paint and put them back into the den.

Wolf Father was very grateful. He said, "When you go to war hereafter,
I will go with you. I will bring about whatever you wish." Then the
man went away.

After a while the man went on the warpath. Just as he came in sight
of the village of the enemy, a large wolf met him.

Wolf said, "By and by I will sing. Then you shall steal their horses
when they least suspect danger."

So the man stopped on a hill close to the village. And the wolf sang.
After that he howled, making a high wind arise. The horses fled to the
forest, but many stopped on the hillside. When the wolf howled again,
the wind died down and a mist arose.